Automated guided vehicle Types & Application Justin Alder Oct, 24 2012

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) A material handling system that uses independently operated, self-propelled vehicles guided along defined pathways Typical features: On-board batteries (8-16 hours of operation) Pathways are unobtrusive Move material to and from load points Found in production settings

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Where AGVs are used: Automotive industry Commercial print Hospitals Pharmaceuticals industry Chemical industry Food handling Manufacturing Paper industry Warehouse distribution

AGV Types Driverless Trains (Tugger or Tow AGV) Pull one or more trailers Heavy payloads over long distances Efficient transport system Unidirectional, looping track system (most can’t move in reverse) Automatic hitching Loaded and unloaded by traditional or AGV fork truck

Applications Work in process movement Finish product handling Raw material handing Pallet movement Tool and supply delivery

AGV Types Pallet Trucks/Fork Trucks Move palletized loads along routes Accurate pallet placement Interface with many different types of plant equipment including palletizers, stretch wrappers, ASRS systems, conveyors & racking Sensors onboard the vehicles allow for communication with plant equipment, and ensure smooth transfer of pallets between the AGV and fixed equipment

Applications Work in process movement Finish product handling Raw material handing Pallet movement and placement Loading and Unloading

AGV Types Unit Load Carriers (Top Carriers) Move unit loads from one station to another Equipped for automatic loading and unloading pallets or tote pans with power rollers, belts, lift platforms

Application Work in process movement Finish product handling Raw material handing Pallet movement and placement Roll handling Custom applications http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTIwys_aiCE&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xhRfxWDv_w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5H1eLUTbZ0&feature=fvwp&NR=1

Primary Vendors

Latest and Greatest Fragile Item Transportation http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/agvs/casestudies/8115/automatic-vehicle-design-accommodates-fragile-item-transportation Heavy-duty Steel Plate Movement http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/agvs/casestudies/8867/heavy-duty-automatic-guided-vehicle-moves-steel-plates-both-indoors-and-outside Auto Industry (Laser guidance system) http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/agvs/casestudies/11585/automotive-assembly-plant-improves-productivity-with-agvs

Class Application: Cost Estimate Requirements: 4 vehicles Automatic Vehicle Dispatch, Load/Unload, Central Controller, Product Tracking, Multiple Path Options, Load capacity of 6,000 lbs (level 2) Answer: Total system cost can be estimated by multiplying the projected number of vehicles times the unit costs shown Estimated cost = 4*($115,000 to $225,000) = Range of ($460,000 to $900,000) depending on complexity of system…. http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/agvs/costestimating

References http://www.jbtc-agv.com/en/Solutions/Products/Tugger-Automatic-Guided-Vehicles-AGVs http://www.swisslog.com/index/hcs-index/hcs-systems/hcs-agv/hcs-agv-transcar.htm Automation Production Systems, and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing , Third Edition, Mikell P. Groover. http://www.dematic.com/na http://www.frog.nl/ http://www.egeminusa.com/ http://www.jbtc-agv.com/ http://www.transbotics.com/ http://www.agvsystems.com/ http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/agvs/costestimating